70-METER ANTENNAS

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The 70-meter (230-foot) diameter antenna is the largest, and therefore most sensitive, DSN antenna, and is capabile of tracking a spacecraft travelling more than 16 billion kilometers (10 billion miles) from Earth.

The surface of the 70-meter reflector must remain accurate within a fraction of the signal wavelength, meaning that the precision across the 3,850-square-meter (41,400 sq. ft.) surface is maintained within one centimeter (0.4 in.).

The dish reflector and its azimuth-elevation mount atop the concrete pedestal weigh nearly 2.7 million kilograms (2,970 U.S tons).